Explore: Horta
General Info
Description:
Faial is the most westerly of the central group of Azorean Islands and Horta is located on its SE coast. Faial is the smallest of the three “Triangle Islands”. It has one of the main airports in the Azores and Horta itself owes its importance to its sheltered harbour, making it the most popular stopover port with transient yachts and the best for yachting facilities.
The town has several beautiful old buildings, and the island is dotted with white or pastel-colored cottages, their square windows outlined in blue. A common sight are the rows of blue hydrangeas, originally introduced from China and now a signature of the Azores.
Almost every concrete wall and surface in the port here is covered with paintings done by boats that have stopped over. It is tradition to leave a painting behind (and your paint if you have any left) to commemorate your voyage.
The volcanic eruption of the 1950s is well documented in the cruising guides, but the Island also suffered a major earthquake in 1998, measuring more than 6 on the Richter scale, severely damaging many buildings.
Entrance Notes and Cautions:
The harbor can’t be seen until the last headland is cleared. Steer a course for the end of the southern breakwater. Once around this, the marina breakwater and reception berth can easily be seen. Take care with fishing boats exiting the harbor at speed. At night during the summer there are likely to be a number of yachts at anchor off the southern end of the marina, probably unlit.
Useful Contacts:
Marina: +351 292 391 693, E-mail: [email protected], VHF Ch. 09/16
Peter Café Sport (Duarte): +351 914 943 610 – Peter Café Sport Facebook page.
Mid Atlantic Yacht Services (Duncan): [email protected] MAYS facebook page
Position:
38°32.1’N, 28°37.18’W (harbor entrance)
Clearance
For full details on clearing into and out of the Azores see Azores Formalities.
- As you approach Faial and before entering the harbor, make contact with the marina on VHF Ch. 16 (or in Horta Ch. 09). They can provide you with anchoring instructions during working hours.
- You may be asked to berth alongside the reception quay (minimum depth 3m) – space permitting. As you pass through the breakwater entrance turn to port and follow the breakwater on your starboard side to the end. To starboard is a two-story white building (fuel pumps can easily be seen at its Northern end). This is the “reception dock.”
- The marina office is open 0800-1200, 1300-2000 (seven days a week in the high season April to June).
- The offices of Immigration, maritime police, Customs (Alfandega) and Guarda Nacional Republicana are next to the marina office in the same building. The marina staff will inform the captain of the order in which these officials must be visited, both on arrival and at departure.
- The marina office will assign a berth once clearance is completed.
- Yachts arriving after office hours should wait at the reception quay until the next morning.
Last updated: October 2021
Docking
Marina Information
When contacting the marina, it may be difficult to get a response via e-mail. Telephoning is the best method of communication.
Although the marina at Horta officially has “300 berths”, this includes raft-ups. Along the jetty wall, yachts can raft up to 3 deep in busy season.
There are two marina basins, north and south. The majority of yachts must expect to raft up against the marina wall in the northern basin, however pontoon berths will be allocated if possible. Due to the turnover of yacht traffic, new places on the pontoons become available daily, so expect to move during your stay. Long mooring lines are useful when rafted out.
Anchoring
Anchoring is necessary here during the busy season, particularly for multihulls. The bottom has a few sandy patches, but is mainly rocks with a great deal of debris, so holding tends to be poor.
Horta Marina charges boats at anchor a fee of 50% of the berthing rate. This includes unlimited water from the marina (either from the reception quay or by jerry can), use of the toilets, showers, launderette and dinghy berthing. A rate sheet will be supplied on arrival.
It is forbidden for boats, local or visiting, to anchor at Porto Pim (south of Horta) and off Praia da Boca da Ribeira, NE of the ferry and cruise ship terminal, due to undersea cables and a nature reserve.
Last updated: October 2021
Related Businesses
Capitania do Porto Horta (Harbour Master)
Address: Horta, Faial, Azores,
... Read More
Horta Marina
Address: Cais de Santa Cruz, Horta, Faial, Azores, 9900-017
A well-sheltered marina except when the wind is from the NE when a swell will build up in the harbour. 300 berths. All facilities, (note... Read More
Yacht Clubs
Related Businesses
Clube Naval da Horta
Address: Cais Velho, Pavilhão Náutico, Horta, Portugal, Azores, 9900 -017
http://www.cnhorta.org/ [Broken Link]
Visitors are welcome to use its bar or participate in one of its many races. Contact the club secretariat... Read More
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